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Although its name suggests pulling off an au naturel look, it’s no secret that achieving this effortless look actually requires the actual use of makeup. In fact, it’s even more difficult to keep the coverage to a minimum while aiming to achieve that flawless finish. To help you master the art of barely-there makeup, we asked a group of professional makeup artists to share the tricks of the trade – and some of those tricks are as follows:

1. Powder and Conceal Only Where Needed
Opting for a heavy-coverage foundation will only ruin your chances of achieving this look before you even begin. Your goal is to keep things to a minimum – especially the coverage – so you can make your beauty look appear as natural as possible.

2. Highlight the High Points of Your Face
Achieve that healthy-looking skin by getting your highlighting game on point. Ideally, you should apply your highlighter where the light naturally hits your face, such as the centre part of your lids, the high points of your cheeks, the bridge of your nose, the inner corner of your eyes, and on your cupids bow. With this, you’ll achieve that healthy glow you’ve always wanted.

3. Apply Bronzer on Your Lids
Use your bronzer as an alternative to your usual eyeshadow. To pull off the au naturel look, simply ditch your usual greys and pinks for a more neutral palette to give your peepers just enough tinge of colour.

4. Wear a Thin Coat of Mascara
Let your pretty doe eyes take the centre stage, but don’t overdo it by wearing a set of bold falsies. If you’re blessed with lashes that are long enough, simply applying a coat or two of your favourite mascara will do the trick; if you want to look a bit dolled up, however, then opt for individual lashes that you may customize as you see fit.

5. Use the Right Lipstick Shade
Most celebrity makeup artists use lipstick as a blush to maintain the skin texture, as well as to make the beauty look appear uniform. The key here is to choose and use a lipstick shade that’s closest to your natural lip colour, and use it on your cheeks and lips to achieve a consistent soft wash of colour.

Mastering the no-makeup beauty look isn’t that difficult and tricky if you just know the basic do’s and don’ts of the said makeup look. So be sure to keep these tricks in mind, and you’ll be able to nail that barely-there look with so much ease.

Getting acne breakouts during that time of the month can be a real drag, especially if you’re experiencing menstrual cramps along with it. But while it seems inevitable, there are actually a lot of ways on how you can help yourself in lessening the severity of your monthly breakouts. Here, we listed down some of the best ways on how you could possibly keep your hormonal spots at bay.

1. Switch Up Your Diet
One way of dealing with your hormonal acne is to tweak your diet. You can start by eliminating dairy milk – especially skim milk – from your diet, as it contains pimple-producing hormones. If you need to continue drinking milk, opt for a healthier and tastier alternative like almond milk. Aside from milk, you should also limit your consumption of high glycaemic index foods like pasta, rice and white bread.

2. Augment With Supplements
While going on a healthy diet can make a major difference in your health and skin, remember that you can always use some extra help. Supplements like chlorophyll, spirulina, zinc and fish oils are known to help control oil, replenish lipids and detoxify the skin. So be sure to take these supplements consistently to achieve a healthier and more resilient skin.

3. Drink Green Tea
Drinking green tea offers a lot of health benefits, and improving your skin’s condition is another reason to just guzzle a cup of this drink. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that help fight off inflammation, unstable insulin level, and increased hormonal levels – all of which contribute to the appearance of hormonal acne. To get the best results, ensure that you drink three cups of green tea a day.

4. Consume Good Bacteria
Eat a yogurt with live and active cultures or take a probiotic supplement once a day. Probiotics work by helping your gut in easing inflammation that triggers a myriad of skin problems, including acne.

5. Prevention is the Key
The best way to treat acne is to prevent it before it even appears – and with hormonal acne, you can pretty much guess when and where the zits will pop. So use this knowledge to your advantage and start applying acne-fighting products several days before your period starts. Opt for cleansers that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid to spot treat your zits.

Bad habits are definitely challenging to break, but making small lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and supplementing your diet will certainly help in doing wonders both for your skin and your overall health.

You will be surprised to know that every day the average person rubs, sprays and lathers at least ten different skin care products on his/her body. Remember that the skin is not barrier from these products instead it acts like a sponge – it absorbs the chemicals you apply. Cosmetics manufacturers claim that these chemicals are harmless because of small doses.

But when you think about it, you accumulate such chemicals every day. When it piles up to your body, what happens then? The truth is, no one really knows what these chemicals can do over time. There are no studies that explored its effects. There are many cosmetic companies here in Singapore and it is important that they explore the effects of such chemicals over time.

You haven’t heard someone getting sick because of using a mascara or body wash but the point here is to make sure that the chemicals do not harm you and the environment in the long run. Knowing this, you have to know how to choose the safest skin products. Here is a simple guide:

Do not overdo it: Being simple will make your life less stressful. There are many people who are easily enticed to buy products. That is the work of marketers but you have to be aware that sometimes, the results will vary. Do not be fooled by marketers. You need to simplify your regimen. All you need is a cleanser, toner, moisturizer and sunscreen. Other things like creams, potions and lotions are just costs you can do away with.

Do not consider fragrance: You opt for products with fragrance because it smells good leaving you feeling good. You have to be aware though that fragrance can contain toxic chemicals that can enter to the body. Artificial fragrances contain phthalates that can cause allergies. Always choose products that are fragrance-free.

Do not fall for trends: Again, do not fall for crazy trends and advertising because most of the time, it won’t do you any good. Remember that there is no easy solution on your skin problems and that skin care is a matter of consistency not the products.

Make your own skin care treatments: What is the best way to regulate the things that you skin absorbs? You have to make your own skin care treatments. Skin care treatments are just around you if you know what or where to look. This will save you more money plus the feeling of safety. For example, in making face mask, you can combine coconut oil and honey. For your acne, green tea toner can make a difference. You just have to look closely.

The sun seems to get hotter by the minute. It is advised that we stay indoors but it is not possible. Here in Singapore, we will be more productive staying outside. Whether we choose to wander or to work, going outside is needed. So instead of hiding indoors, why not enjoy the day and not worry about the sun?

You can just consider sunscreen or umbrellas. If in this case you are still unsure about sunscreens because of some things that you heard about it, it is time that these things debunked. There are many myths about sunscreen and it is crucial that you know which are true and not.

Here are some sunscreen myths and the truths about it:

Myth number 1: One famous myth is that when wearing sunscreen, the user will not get tanned. You have to know that tan is the result of the skin’s protecting against UV rays. The skin will produce melanin (thereby the darkening of the skin) to protect it against UV rays. Remember that no matter the SPF, no sunscreen can completely keep the skin from harmful coverage. Do not expect that you won’t get tanned using sunscreen.

Myth number 2: Many people believe that the chemicals found in sunscreens are harmful than getting sunburns. This myth came out because many people know that sunscreens have chemicals used to protect the skin from the sun and some of these chemicals are harmful. This is not true. You should know that brands put most of their time in research and development. Because of this, they make sure that thorough and extensive safety is observed.

Myth number 3: Putting a strong SPF in the morning will last a day. This is again a myth. Skin experts recommend that you reapply sunscreens every two to three hours. It doesn’t mean that you put strong SPF in the morning, it is enough to last a day.

Myth number 4: There is no point in securing SPF of over 30. You have to know that the difference of SPF 30 onwards is minimal. If you buy SPF 30, you will be 97 percent protected. If you buy SPF 45, you will be 98 percent protected and SPF 60 will give you 98 percent protection. Depending on your skin type, you have to be particular about SPF but experts will recommend SPF 30.

Myth number 5: The market is developing different kinds of sunscreens for different needs of users. There are artificial sunscreens and mineral ones. Others think that natural sunscreens are the healthiest option. Again, this is a myth. All sunscreens are the healthiest option because it protects the skin from the sun. It is just a matter of preference.

You simply want a fragrance that lasts but it is hard to find one especially if you are walking blind not to mention the market that is quite vast. If you do not know a thing about fragrance, you will just buy one perfume to another without the satisfaction and happiness. This is a total waste of money.

You have to know the fragrance categories so you will know what to purchase and you will not waste a lot of money searching for the perfect one. Shopping for that perfect fragrance can be overwhelming with all the available scents in the market but if you know its categories, it will make thing easier. In every fragrance, there is an involved concentration.

Concentration refers to the power or strength of the fragrance. Perfumes manufactured with high concentration contain less alcohol and more oils. This will enable fragrances to last long. The concentration is broken into different categories. Here is the list of the categories for your future reference:

Extrait de Parfum: Sometimes it is called simply parfum or pure perfume. To some it is referred as “night wear”. It has the highest concentration. It contains 15-40% fragrance concentration. The scent will usually last for up to eight hours and because of this, parfums demand the highest price of all types of fragrances. Parfums are also good for people with sensitive skin since it contain less alcohol.

Eau de Parfum (EDP): After parfum is EDP. EDP has a concentration between 15 to 20%. EDP will usually last up to five hours. It is less expensive compared to parfum. It has higher alcohol but it is still best for people with sensitive skin if you cannot afford parfum.

Eau de Toilette (EDT): In the case of EDT, the fragrance concentration is between 5 to 15%. It is cheaper than EDP and it is the most popular type of fragrance in the market. On average, EDT will last up to three hours. For many, EDT is considered a “day wear”.

Eau de Cologne (EDC): EDC has low fragrance concentration with 2 to 4% of fragrance concentration. People with sensitive skin should watch out because it has the highest concentration of alcohol. It is also cheap and the fragrance will only last for two hours.

Eau Fraiche: Eau fraiche is akin to EDC in terms of how long the scent will last (about two hours). Eau fraiche has the lowest concentration between 1 to 3% but it also contains low alcohol. In fact, its remainder is mostly water.

So when the sales associate come near you, you can stand proud and tell them what you want. You even understand their language and the surprising thing is you can converse now. It pays to know the types.

You’ve mastered your skincare routine down to the tiniest detail: You never leave your house without sunscreen or go to bed without washing your face. Still, there are times where your best efforts doesn’t seem to be enough. You wake up, only to find out some dry patches or a zit popping out – and you know that your acne cream and moisturizer isn’t enough to fix it. So what’s a girl to do? Skincare experts in Singapore recommend stocking up some face masks for your every skincare emergency needs.

Different Skin Types

For Sensitive Skin

Blessed with sensitive skin? Then make sure that you keep a bottle of a soothing face mask ready to make your skin feel and look better. Eliminate blotchiness and redness by purchasing a mask with soothing ingredients like honey, lavender or oatmeal such as Mario Badescu’s Healing and Soothing Mask.

For Dry Skin

Similar with sensitive skin, dealing with a dry skin can also be extra stressful. So do yourself and your skin a favour by slathering on a moisturizing mask on your skin before going to bed. Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask would be the best face mask choice for this skin type, as it combines shea butter, soybean and sweet almond oils to create a moisturizing powerhouse.

For Oily Skin

We all want to have that effervescent glow on our skin – but not too much glow. So whenever your skin starts to look a little too shiny, immediately slather a clay mask on to absorb the oil. Its effect usually last a few days so you’ll need to reapply it every once in a while. If you’re a busy working girl, opt for clay masks that only takes a few minutes to work like the 10-Minute Mask to Rescue Problem Skin.

Different Skin Problems

Acne Breakouts

Surprise breakouts are definitely the worst. Luckily, you can now prevent it from getting worse by applying a face mask that dries up acne. One of the best face mask for this use would be Peter Thomas Roth’s Therapeutic Sulphur Acne Masque. Its combination of clay and sulphur helps in healing the acne and preventing it from recurring.

Congested Skin

A congested skin usually occurs when sebum and dead skin cells build up and clog your pores. Prevent this from happening by deeply exfoliating your skin with First Aid Beauty’s Skin Rescue Purifying Mask with Red Clay.

Hyperpigmentation

Easily eliminate the dark spots left by your acne woes by using a brightening face mask like Fresh Peony Brightening Night Treatment Mask. Use the mask as soon as the hyperpigmentation occurs to prevent it from getting darker due to sun damage.

Despite your best efforts to keep your skin healthy and glowing, there will still be time where skin problems will arise. But by knowing what face masks to use, you’ll definitely be able to beat those skin woes within just a few minutes.